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(No Model.) 4 SheetsSheet 1. H. O. PLATTS & T. LOWTHER.

PACKING.

Patented Oct. 15,1895.

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(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

H. O. PLATTS 8v T. LOWTHE'R.

PACKING. No. 548.089. Patented Oct. 15, 1895.

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4-sheets-sheet 3. H. G. PLATTS & T. LOWTHER.

V PACKING.

Patented Oct. 15,1895.

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4 Sheets-Sheet 4. H. O. PLATTS & T. LOWTHER.

PACKING.

,089. Patented Oct. 15, 1895.

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ATENT FFICE.

HENRY CHARLES PLATTS AND THOMAS LOWTHER, OF HUGHESOFFKA, V

RUSSIA.

PACKING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 548,089, dated October15, 1895. Application flied September 14, 1893. Serial No.485,632. (Nomodel.) Patented in England February 23, 1893, No. 4,044.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, HENRY CHARLES PLATTS and THOMAS LOWTHER, subjectsof the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, residing at Hughesoifka, agovernment of Ekaterinosiav, South Russia, have invented Improvements inPacking, (for which a patent was granted in Great Britain February 23,1893, No. 4,044,) of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to improvements in or relating to packingarrangements such as are used for piston-rods, Valve-spindles, pistons,screw-propeller stern-pipes, and generally for producing fluid-tightjoints, and is designed to provide for automatically tightening up thepacking to compensate for wear. According thereto the packing isconstantly pressed against the surface with which it is to form afluid-tight joint bya tightening device comprising bushes or tubes orsegments of bushes or tubes arranged in pairs and each adapted to actafter the manner of a wedge against the other of the pair, so that theone nearest the packing will be caused to press the same inward oroutward, as the case may be, the wedging action being automaticallyproduced by a spring or springs acting 'di' rectly or indirectly on oneor other of the bushes or tubes or segments of the pair or of each pairwhen there is more than one pair.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 shows partlyin longitudinalhalf-section and partly in elevation a stuffing-box for a pistonrcd withtightening device and means for automatically operating the sameaccording to this invention. Fig. 2 shows a convenient form of joint forthe adjacent edges of the bush-seg ments forming part of the tighteningdevice. Figs. 3 and tare respectively a sectional elevation and a sideelevation showing modified arrangements of springs. Figs. 5 and 6 arepart longitudinal sections of pistons fitted with tighteningdevices'according to thisinvention. Fig. 7 is a cross-section on theline :20 00 of Fig. 6, but drawn to a smaller scale, showing anengine-piston having our improvements applied thereto. Figs. 8 to 12,inclusive, are vertical sections illustrating modified arrangements.Fig. 13 is a corresponding view to Fig. '1, showing an additional devicefor tightening the packin Fig. 14 is a cross-section showing theapplication of our invention to a standingbox for a screw-propellershaft. Fig. 15 is a detail view. The several figures are drawn todifferent scales.

In the arrangement shown in Figs 1 and 2, which is suitable for astuffing-box for a piston-rod, plunger, valve-spindle, or the like, andprovided with packing of any suitable kind, such as metallic, asbestos,vegetable, or composite packing, there are two bushes A and B placedaround the packing 0, between it and the cylindrical inner face of thestuffing-box D. The bush A in packing arrangements according to thisinvention may be made in one piece and either with or without alongitudinal slit or it may be made in two or more segments. The bush Bmay bemade in one piece witha longitudinal slit or it may be made in twoor more segments. When the bushes are made in the form oflongitudinally-slotted tubes, they should be made thin and flexible, inorder that they may be easily sprung over the rod-plunger or the likewith which theyare to be used, and so that when in position in thestuffingbox the bushes B can be easily compressed by the action of thesprings. In the example now being described it is assumed that thebushes are each made in several segments. The adjacent surfaces of eachpair of these segments are toothed or corrugated in a circumferentialdirection, as indicated, the teeth or projections of the outer segmentsA acting when pressed endwise in the direction of the arrow against theteeth or projections of the inner segments B, after the manner ofwedges, and forcing the said inner set of segments radially toward thepacking, which is thereby kept tightly in position against therod-plunger or spindle E to be packed. The segments of the outer bush Aare forced endwise by coiled, volute, or other springs FF, eachpreferably arranged in a spring-box F, surrounding a tightening-bolt orstud G and interposed between the nuts H, that usually serve foradjustment, and the gland I of the stuffing-box.

This gland bears on the segments of the outer By providing the adjacentfaces of the bushings with curved or rounded corrugations friction andwear are greatly reduced and also there is a great saving in packing.The bush bearing-surfaces being rounded are more sensitive tolongitudinal pressure, responding more quickly thereto than Where thebushes are formed with angular corrugations and fiat bearing-surfaces,as in patent to Houston, No. 488,434, dated December 20, 1892, for inthe bushes of this latter class much more friction exists than Where thecontactsurfaces are rounded, thus requiring greater longitudinalpressure to maintain a tight joint. A further advantage is that owing tothe comparative small amount of friction between the outer and innerbushes the longitudinal adjusting means may be fixed to a nicety, thusavoiding unnecessary retarding pressure on the piston and consequentdestruction of packing. Continued wear upon the rounded corrugations hasfor its effect only to flatten or enlarge the curves of thecorrugations, while in flat bearing-surfaces constant backand-forthmotion is likely to cause ridges to form thereon, thereby greatlyretarding the effectiveness of the packing device.

The inner segments B may, as shown in Fig. 1, have a flange B to keepthe packing O in place, and a layer of fibrous or asbestos packing J maybe placed between the gland I and the said flange to hold lubricant. Theflange B on the segmentsB and the packing J may, however, be dispensedwith and the gland I may be arranged toact, as shown in Fig. 13,directly on the bush A and also on the asbestos or other fibrous packingO.

The inner segments B may rest on or bear against a ring K* at the innerend of the stuffing-box, as shown in Fig. 1, this ring having thesurface against which the segments bear beveled or inclined downward andinward to'assist the action of the outer segments A and the movement ofthe inner segments B. The packing C may also rest upon the said ring,as'shown. This ring K instead of being beveled, may in some cases bemade flat-71. a, with its two sides parallel with each other-or it maybe dispensed with, the segments B and packing then resting directlyagainst the inner end of the stuffingbox. The bushes being made insegments, as is also the packing, if metallic, can be re moved andrenewed without taking off the cross-head or other similar mechanicalcontrivance that maybe fixed to the rod, plunger, or spindle to whichthe packing is applied. The longitudinal edges of the segments of eachbush may be arranged parallel and at a short distance apart or so as tooverlap each other. In the lap-joint which we sometimes employ each edgeportion is formed, as shown in Fig. 2, with projections A and recesses Awhich fit into each other; but any other suitable form of lap-joint maybe used.

We may employ as a convenient backing for the packing C a thin flexiblebush B arranged between the bush B'or segments thereof and the saidpacking O. This flexible bush may be made in segments or may be made ina single tubular piece, with its longitudinal edges thinned down andarranged to overlap each other. This thin flexible bush is suitable forthe stuffing-box shown in Fig. 1 and also for that shown in Fig. 13,which is hereinafter described. This flexible bush B is shown in Figs.1, 13, and 14, while in Fig. 15, which is drawn to a larger scale, theoverlapping thinned ends of the said bush B are clearly shown.

The bush A mayadvantageously be provided externally with grooves A Fig.1, which not only serve to lighten the bush, but also to hold packing inorder to insure a fluid tight joint between these grooves and theinterior of the stuffing-box D.

The spring or springs which we employ for the purpose of automaticallytightening up the packing 0 may obviously be constructed in variousforms and be arranged in different positions. Thus each spring may beapplied under the flange D of the stuffing-box D, as shown in dottedlines at F in Fig. 1, either as a spiral spring, as shown, oras avolute, india-rubber, or other spring. The spring may also be appliedbetween the gland I and the bush A, as shown in dotted lines at F inFig. 1, either as spiral, volute, india-rubher, or other springs, asuitable recess or recesses being provided in the gland I for thereception of the said springs; or a large spiral, volute, or otherspring may be arranged between the entire circumferential top surface ofthe bush A or the segments thereof and the gland I, as shown in dottedlines at F on Fig. 13, a suitable recess for the said springs being madein the gland I, as shown; or the last-described spring arrangement maybe arranged between the gland I and the bush A in the manner shown at Fin Fig. 3. A spring or springs may also be employed for the samepurpose, arranged as shown in Fig. 4, in which a spring F, made ofzigzag shape, is arranged to exert its pressure from the under side ofthe gland or plate I to the top surface of the bush A and cause the sameaction as that of the other springs just described. We may use thesprings F or F or F or F or F or F alone, as already described, orcombined. Thus we might in some cases employ springs F with eitherspring F or F or F or F or F or with two or more of such springs, inorder to produce a greater effect.

In Figs. 5 and 6, which illustrate the application of this invention topistons and the like wherein the packing is pressed outward, the'bushesA and B are inserted behind or within the packing-rings C O, and thesprings E are inserted in suitable recesses in the inner bush. Thebushes A and B in this arrangement may, as before, be each made in onepiece or in several pieces or segments, as desired. It is assumed thatthey are made in segments.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 3 the springs F are compressed by thejunk-ring I, so that they force the segments of the said inner bush Aaway from the junk-ring and against the toothed corrugated surfaces ofthe segments comprising the outer bush B. This action causes the outersegments to be pressed outward against the packing 0, thereby tighteningup the same against the cylinder-wall K. The arrangement shown in Fig. 6is designed to more readily adjust the pressure of the springs and tofacilitate examination. In this case a screw-stud I is tapped throughthejunk-ring I opposite each spring, so that the spring is caused toabut against the end thereof. This screw-plug is preferably providedwith a nut 1 which can be tightened up against the junk-ring I toprevent loosening of the plug through vibration or jarring.

In some cases, in order to reduce the weight of the packing-tighteningdevice, we reduce the dimensions of the segments of the bush in acircumferential direction, as shown in Fig. 7, wherein four narrowsegments are shown in the piston of an engine, the segments being heldin their places by pins A*; but the number of such segments used mayobviously be varied to suit requirements.

As will be obvious, the arrangements shown in Figs. 5, 6, and 7 can bevariously modified. Thus the spring F, instead of acting at one endagainst the junk-ring I, may act against the piston, as shown in Fig. 8,the position of the inner end of eachspring recess being then reversedin position from that shown in Figs. 5 and 6. Instead of using spiralsprings F, as shown in these figures, volute or other springs may beused; also, instead of using several of such springs for each bush A orthe segments comprising such bush a single spring F* may be used, asshown in Fig. 9, made either of the volute form shown or of other formand arranged to surround the boss or central portion of the piston andlocated within an annular groove or recess in the bush or bush-segments.When the bushes A and B for a piston are each made in one piece, theymay be constructed of sheet metal corrugated, as shown in Fig. 10, sothat in the case of bush B, which is split, it will be renderedsufficiently flexible for the purpose in view.

Instead of using several inner metal packing-rings O, as shown in Figs.5, 6, 8, and 9, a single split metal ring may be used, as shown in Fig.10, this ring taking the place of the bush B hereinbefore referred to.

Figs. 11 and 12 are vertical sections showing part of a stuffing-boxwith bushes A and B or bush-segments made of thin corrugated sheet metalinstead of the much thicker material shown in Fig. 1, Fig. 11 showingthe sheet-metal bush B or bush-segments abutting against the fiat innerend of the stuffingbox, and Fig. 12 showing it or them abutting againstthe inclined surface of a ring or washer K at the inner end of thestuffing-box.

In some cases where the pressure of the packing is inward, especially incases where fibrous or asbestos packing is used, two or more adjustablescrews may be screwed radially through the stuffing-box and caused toabut against the segments of the outer bush to force the same inwardwhen required, as indicated at J in dotted lines in Fig. 13, which showsa stuffingbox of the same type as Figs. 1 and 2. Such an arrangement mayalso advantageously be applied to a stmhingbox or stern-pipe for ascrew-propeller shaft, as shown in Fig. 14, where J* J* are the radialadjusting-screws, so as to enable such pipe to be tightened and repackedwhile under water. For this purpose the adjustingscrews J* are screwedup against the segments of the outer bush A, which, acting through thesegments of the inner bush Band flexible bush B press the packing Otightly against the screw-propeller shaft. The stuffing-box gland canthen be slacked back and fresh packing inserted. The gland is thenscrewed up, the adjusting-screws being at the same time slacked back,whereby the fresh packing is forced into the stuffing-box. Should morepacking be necessary, the operation is repeated as often as required.This arrangement may also be applied to other packingarrangements, suchas pump and other stuffing-boxes which it may be required to packwithout stopping the engines or while under Water.

What we claim is- 1. In a packing device for rods, pistons and the like,an automatic tightening device comprising a pair of bushes A, B, ofwhich the one next the packing is contractible diametrically, theadjacent surfaces of said bushes being formed with curved interlockingcorrugations and means adapted to cause one of said bushes to movelongitudinally so as to Wedge the other toward the packing,substantially as shown and described.

2. In a packing device for rods, pistons and the like, an automatictightening device comprising a pair of bushes A B of which the one nextthe packing is made in segments, the adjacent surfaces of said bushesbeing formed with uniformly rounded teeth or corrugations and a springor springs adapted to cause one of said bushes to move endwise so as towedge the other toward said packing substantially as described.

3. In a packing device for rods, pistons and the like, the combinationwith the packing proper, of an automatic tightening device comprising apair of bushes A B of which the one next the packing is made insegments, said bushes having their adjacent surfaces formed withuniformly rounded teeth or corrugations, a flexible split tube or busharranged between one of said bushes and said packing, and a spring orsprings adapted to cause one of said bushes to move endwise so as towedge the other against said flexible bush and packing substantially asdescribed.

4. The combination in an arrangement for automatically tighteningpacking, of a number of segments A B arranged in pairs and having theiradjacent surfaces formed with uniformly rounded teeth or corrugations, aspring or springs for forcing one of the se ments of each pair in anendwise direction so as to wedge the other segment of the pair towardsaid packing, and means for compressing said spring or springs afterbeing placed in position substantially as described.

5. The combination with a stuffing box containing packing, of atightening device comprising two or more parts arranged to bear againsteach other after the manner of wedges and to act against said packing,means adapted to automatically move one or some of said parts relativelyto the other and thereby cause pressure to be exerted against saidpacking, and packing material arranged between the interior of saidstuffing box and the part or parts of the tightening device in proximitythereto substantially as herein described.

6. The combination with a stuffing box, of a tightening device adaptedto surround packing in said box, and comprising the concentricallyarranged bushes A B, having their adjacent surfaces formed with roundedteeth or corrugations, and the inner of which is divided longitudinallyinto segments, a gland arranged to bear against one of said bushes, anda spring or springs arranged to constantly force said glands toward thebush against which it bears substantially as herein described.

7. The combination with a stuffing box, of a tightening devicecomprising concentrically arranged bushes having their adjacent surfacesribbed or corrugated and the inner of which is divided longitudinallyand provided at its outer end with an inwardly projecting flange adaptedto confine the packing in,

place, and means acting to constantly force the outer bush in an endwisedirection and against the inner one substantially as herein described.

8. The combination with a stuffing box containing packing, of atightening device surrounding said packing and comprising concentricallyarranged bushes having their adjacent surfaces ribbed or corrugated, agland arranged to bear against one of said bushes, and against packingmaterial located between the rod or other body to be packed and theouter end of the bush against which the gland bears, and a spring orsprings acting to constantly force said gland against said bush andpacking substantially as herein described.

9. The combination in an arrangement for automatically tighteningpacking, of a pair of bushes A B having their adjacent surfaces ribbedor corrugated, and each divided longitudinally into segments, a springor springs for causing one of the divided bushes to move endwise inrelation to the other so as to wedge the latter toward said packing, andradial adjusting screws arranged to act laterally against the segmentsof the outer bush and co-operate in such wedging action substantially asdescribed.

10. In an arrangement for automatically tightening packing thecombination with packing C, of the pair of bushes A B having theiradjacent surfaces formed with uniformly rounded teeth or corrugations asshown and each divided into segments, a spring or springs for forcingone bush endwise in relation to the other and a flexible bush B arrangedbetween the other bush and the packing substantially as described.

11. The combination in an arrangement for automatically tighteningpacking of a stuffing box to contain packing, a pair of bushes A B,located in such box, having their adjacent surfaces corrugated, and eachformed in segments, a flexible bush B arranged between the bush B andthe packing, a gland I adapted to bear against one of said bushes,springs acting to force said gland into said stuffing box andsurrounding screw boltscan ried by said stuffing box, nuts H screwed onsaid bolts and serving to tighten said springs, and packing arrangedbetween the outer bush A and the interior of said stuffing boxsubstantially as described.

12. The combination in an arrangement for automatically tighteningpacking, of a stuffing box and packing located therein, a pair of bushesAB, formed in segments and having their adjacent surfaces corrugated aflexible bush B arranged between said packing and one of said bushes B,packing J compressed between the other bush and said gland, bolts Gcarried by said stufling box extending through said gland and fittedwith tightening nuts, and springs F each surrounding one of said boltsand acting to force said gland inward, substantially as described.

13. The combination in an arrangement for automatically tighteningpacking, of a studing box, segments A B arranged to surround the packingand located in said box, a flexible bush B arranged between the packingand the inner bush B, a gland I arranged to bear on one of said bushes,bolts G carried by said box and passing through said gland and fittedwith tightening nuts, springs F surrounding said studs and acting toforce said gland inward, and adjusting screws J* extending through saidstuffing box and acting against the outer of said bushes substantiallyas herein described for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HENRY CHARLES PLATTS. THOMAS LOWTHER.

Witnesses:

JOHN FILBER PALMER, GEORGE ROBERT MARTIN.

-IIO

